Retrospective Study of the Risk of Progression to Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Vulvar Lichen Planus Forms Isolated or...

The aim of the study was to examine the potential risk of vulvar lichen planus (LP), alone or associated with lichen sclerosus (LS) or lichen simplex chronicus (LSC), to evolve towards vulvar cancer (VSCC).

We retrospectively investigated the incidence of vulvar cancer in women diagnosed with LP, alone or associated with LS and LSC, between 2007 and 2022.

We retrieved the data of 77 women with LP with a mean age of 63.5 ± 11.9 years old. Of these, 53 had LP, 19 had LP+LS, and 5 had LP+LSC. Ultrapotent topical corticosteroids were the first-line treatment. The mean follow-up time was 45 ± 30.14 months, during which four patients developed VSCC (5.19%). All four cases were found to be associated with the presence of multiple lichen, and the frequency of developing a neoplasm in the presence of LS or LSC superimposed on LP was found to be significant with Fisher's exact test (p = 0.0079).

Analyzing our data, we can point out a concrete possibility regarding the relationship between multiple lichen and VSCC compared to LP alone. However, the sample size is too small to allow definitive conclusions to be drawn, and multicenter studies would, therefore, be desirable in the future both to examine more thoroughly and in large numbers the relationship between LP, multiple lichen, and vulvar cancer and to find new treatment and follow-up strategies for pathogenesis.